As I look at the news and world events around me, it’s hard
not to see that homosexuality is becoming more and more open today’s society.
Though I personally do not agree with the lifestyle, at the end of the day, all
I can say is, to each their own. I’m sure there are many who do not agree with
my lifestyle too, and I’m OK with that.
Whatever.
What I find strangely interesting, if not downright amusing,
is that while some are, as the old expression goes, “coming out of the closet,” others appear to
be going into it. What do I mean by that? Let me try and explain, but before I
do, a caveat is in order.
Though this is normally a faith and church themed blog, this
post has nothing whatsoever to do with faith, church or religion of any kind.
The arguments here are entirely non-religious in every way. What I’m interested
in exploring here is not homosexuality or religion, for in truth I couldn’t
care less one way or another about either. Again, to each their own.
What I want to talk about here is the question of freedom of
speech.
Are the rights and freedoms and equalities the one side is
claiming that they’re being denied, ironically also being denied by them to the
other side? The one side claims that the other is intolerant because it has not
accepted their choice of lifestyle, whereas I have heard others also wonder if
they too haven’t had their rights and freedoms and equalities trampled on simply
because they have a different point of view. How interesting.
Again, let me reiterate, this is not a pro nor anti homosexuality
post; I really couldn’t care less one way or another what people call
themselves, nor how they choose to label themselves. The truth is, it really
doesn’t matter to me; no one is accountable to me, nor am I accountable to
them; end of story.
To my gay friends, I have only one request: PLEASE stop
calling people who do not agree with your lifestyle “homophobic.” I don’t know
why that bugs me, but it does. Maybe it has something to do with my tendency to
be somewhat of a grammar cop. “Phobic” properly defined means “scared of.” Why
is it that someone who has a different opinion from another person is said to
be scared (phobic) of the other person? That is about as logical as a Buddhist
saying that all who don’t embrace Buddhism are “Buddha-phobics,” or a Christian
claiming that all who do not embrace Christianity are “Christ-a-phobics.”
I said that this post had nothing to do with a Christian
view of homosexuality, and it doesn’t, but please allow me one Bible verse. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on
you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). Are you a homosexual?
Strive to live “at peace” with those who aren’t homosexuals. Are you a
heterosexual? Strive to live “at peace” with those who aren’t heterosexuals.
There, wasn’t that easy? Problem solved!
What is wrong with giving each other room to have different
opinions? Now there’s a concept worth fighting for! Forget the idiotic notion
of fighting with neighbors and relatives, using the “intolerant” and “phobic”
cards. Did not our forefathers fight and die to leave us a country that valued
freedom of speech? Why are we so bent on being the generation that dismantles
it?
Have you “come out of the closet?” Good for you. Just please
don’t force others who think differently from you to go into the now vacated
closet because they’re scared to voice a difference of opinion.
Finally, in the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “An eye for an eye, will make us all blind.” Something for all of us to think about, regardless which side of the closet door you're standing on. Peace.
Photo Source: Unknown (via Facebook)
Another great post. It reminds me of a scene from the move "The American President" with Michael Douglas. Near the end of the movie he is holding a press conference and says something to the effect that if you want freedom of speech you have to be willing to deffend the rights of those whose opinions make your blood boil.
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